At the Woodward Dream Cruise, Dodge has once again used the stage to introduce two new special editions of their popular muscle cars, one of them being the 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A.
The Challenger T/A was first built in 1970 for SCCA Trans Am racing, a rare model of which only 2,399 were built. Fast forward to present day, Dodge will offer the 2017 Challenger in three different versions, the T/A, T/A Plus, and T/A 392.
Starting with the T/A, Dodge builds the new special-edition on the Challenger R/T with its 375 horsepower 5.7-liter V8. Added is a long list of performance hardware and visuals that amp it up, starting with Hyper Black 20×9 forged alloy wheels.
Up front it gets a unique satin black fascia, a grille with Challenger script lettering framed by “Air Catcher” headlamps with LED T/A logos. On top is a a satin black NACA ducted hood, and don’t worry it’s functional, feeding air into a variation of the Hellcat’s air intake system.
The satin black styling treatment carries over the roof and onto the deck-lid and rear spoiler. Out back, the Challenger T/A gets a beefier 2.75-inch performance exhaust with the active sound flaps inside.
For handling it gets a Super Track Pak, riding a half-inch lower to the ground, stiffer Bilstein shocks, high-heat brake pads, and stickier Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber. The stability control gets a three-mode calibration and a true “full off” setting. Yay!
While you’re shredding those tires, from inside you’ll enjoy special effects like aluminum trims and black accents with a retro touch. Premium Black sport seats get a unique Houndstooth cloth center and a 1971-inspired “tic-toc-tach” gauge cluster also reaches into yesteryear.
If you want more, the Challenger T/A Plus adds some modern day luxury to the package with upgraded Nappa leather heated seats, a top-end 276-watt Uconnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a power tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel.
You also get the Dodge Performance Pages with the T/A Plus that gives you all sorts of fun time performance information, like a shift light indicator, ET reaction time, 0-60 times, G-force indicator and lap timer.
But alas, there’s more. The Challenger T/A 392 takes all of that and rolls in the extra anger of the larger 485 horsepower 6.4-liter or 392 cubic inch V8. That will get you moving faster, and stopping will come faster as well with larger Brembo brakes and a beefed up suspension to handle the yet wider 20×9.5 inch wheels and wider Pirelli rubber.
Lastly, these wouldn’t be special-editions without special colors. You’ll be able to get these in a variety of shades including a limited-production Green Go and Yellow Jacket. Also available are Destroyer Gray and Octane Red along with the other existing colors.
They do cost a bit more. The 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A starts at $37,390, the T/A Plus at $40,140. stepping up to the T/A 392 will set you back $43,995 plus a gas-guzzler tax. Chances are if you want one, you won’t care too much about that.
We’ll bring your a far more detailed review when we get behind the wheel of one to for a full test drive which we hope will be very soon. You can also learn about the new 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona special-edition in our separate report.
